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About Bhimtal

Bhimtal is a city placed within the Indian state of Uttarakhand. It is placed at a degree altitude of around 1200 meters, and is called when an illustrious character in Indian mythology  Bhima. The city of Bhimtal is principally attractive spot among tourists and native travelers alike, chiefly as a result of its proximity to hill station of Nainital. Bhimtal is principally illustrious for the big Bhimtal Lake that's gift within the region. Throughout your trip to the city of Bhimtal, you'll go seafaring within the Bhimtal Lake, as this can be one in all the chief holidaymaker attractions in Bhimtal. A temple is found within the city of Bhimtal, and this attracts pilgrims from in and round the region. Known as Bhimeshwar, the temple was inbuilt the seventeenth century. The exquisite design underneath that temple makes it more attractive for devotion.Read More

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If you can explore one place in India, let it be its capital, New Delhi. This modern city offers everything that a city traveller could possibly want – chaos, quiet, spirituality, history, culture and food.
Delhi is said to be one of the oldest existing cities in the world. This ancient city never stops growing. The Mughal and British, the two main empires who invaded the city, have left a deep mark on its face and infrastructure. Their monuments and mausoleums lie scattered across the city, such as India Gate, Jama Masjid, Humayun’s Tomb, Qutub Minar, Purana Qila and the Lodhi Gardens.
The iconic Red Fort or Lal Qila, built of sandstone, has been standing tall since 1648 and was the brainchild of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. You can participate in the celebration of modern Indian art at Akshardham, a wondrous house of worship. The colossal, Lotus Temple is a centre of Baha'i faith and is a peaceful refuge from the breathlessness of the city.
The city has a rich and colourful character, which is visible in its chaotic bazaars such as Janpath, Sarojini Nagar, Dilli Haat and Chandni Chowk – all heavens for shopaholics. You may splurge at the high-end restaurants and pubs all across Delhi, but do not miss out on the street food. Connaught Place, Chanakyapuri and the Parliament Street stretch, everything contributes to the grandeur New Delhi is. If you’re touring Delhi, Paharganj is a good choice for inexpensive lodging with good connectivity.Read More

If you can explore one place in India, let it be its capital, New Delhi. This modern city offers everything that a city traveller could possibly want – chaos, quiet, spirituality, history, culture and food.
Delhi is said to be one of the oldest existing cities in the world. This ancient city never stops growing. The Mughal and British, the two main empires who invaded the city, have left a deep mark on its face and infrastructure. Their monuments and mausoleums lie scattered across the city, such as India Gate, Jama Masjid, Humayun’s Tomb, Qutub Minar, Purana Qila and the Lodhi Gardens.
The iconic Red Fort or Lal Qila, built of sandstone, has been standing tall since 1648 and was the brainchild of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. You can participate in the celebration of modern Indian art at Akshardham, a wondrous house of worship. The colossal, Lotus Temple is a centre of Baha'i faith and is a peaceful refuge from the breathlessness of the city.
The city has a rich and colourful character, which is visible in its chaotic bazaars such as Janpath, Sarojini Nagar, Dilli Haat and Chandni Chowk – all heavens for shopaholics. You may splurge at the high-end restaurants and pubs all across Delhi, but do not miss out on the street food. Connaught Place, Chanakyapuri and the Parliament Street stretch, everything contributes to the grandeur New Delhi is. If you’re touring Delhi, Paharganj is a good choice for inexpensive lodging with good connectivity.

The capital city was a brief stop before an overnight train journey to the Desert state of Rajasthan. Next stop - Udaipur.

Best time to visit - January,February,March,April,August,September,October,November,December

A quick getaway destination for Delhi-NCR residents, Mussoorie or the 'Queen of Hills' is the most favoured place for anyone battling urban heat.
It remains quite crowded from May to July, as popular hotels and hangouts such as Mall Road, Mussoorie Lake, Kempty Falls and Gun Hill remain pervaded with tourists no matter where or what you may set your eyes upon. But if you carry the spirit of an explorer within you, Mussoorie can surprise you in many ways.
For instance, if you curious to check out where the man who Mt. Everest is named after, once lived, you can reach the house and laboratory through a picturesque 4 km walk from Library Bazaar or Gandhi Chowk. Ditch the customary visit to Kempty Falls and take an uplifting trek to the quiet, serene and crystal clear Jharipani Falls instead. Mussoorie, when mist free, provides frame-worthy views of the Himalayan ranges, which can be enjoyed at points such as Lal Tibba, Nag Tibba and Camel Back Road, all of which need to be trekked or walked to, with the effort being worthwhile.
Devalsari, a village quietly burrowed 55 km away from Mussoorie, is the gateway to the Nag Tibba trek and a location perfect for seeing beautiful butterflies and birds in the heart of nature. For those curious to delve into Himalayan life, history, art, culture and spirituality, Soham Heritage and Art Centre gives exquisite displays of the former, through various artefacts. As for foodies, restaurants such as Neelam, Imperial Square, Meeting Point Cafe and Casa Mia bakery do justice to North Indian, European and Tibetan cuisines and also offer delicious cafe knick knacks and drinks. Read More

A quick getaway destination for Delhi-NCR residents, Mussoorie or the 'Queen of Hills' is the most favoured place for anyone battling urban heat.
It remains quite crowded from May to July, as popular hotels and hangouts such as Mall Road, Mussoorie Lake, Kempty Falls and Gun Hill remain pervaded with tourists no matter where or what you may set your eyes upon. But if you carry the spirit of an explorer within you, Mussoorie can surprise you in many ways.
For instance, if you curious to check out where the man who Mt. Everest is named after, once lived, you can reach the house and laboratory through a picturesque 4 km walk from Library Bazaar or Gandhi Chowk. Ditch the customary visit to Kempty Falls and take an uplifting trek to the quiet, serene and crystal clear Jharipani Falls instead. Mussoorie, when mist free, provides frame-worthy views of the Himalayan ranges, which can be enjoyed at points such as Lal Tibba, Nag Tibba and Camel Back Road, all of which need to be trekked or walked to, with the effort being worthwhile.
Devalsari, a village quietly burrowed 55 km away from Mussoorie, is the gateway to the Nag Tibba trek and a location perfect for seeing beautiful butterflies and birds in the heart of nature. For those curious to delve into Himalayan life, history, art, culture and spirituality, Soham Heritage and Art Centre gives exquisite displays of the former, through various artefacts. As for foodies, restaurants such as Neelam, Imperial Square, Meeting Point Cafe and Casa Mia bakery do justice to North Indian, European and Tibetan cuisines and also offer delicious cafe knick knacks and drinks.

After bungee we all were discussing about the jump where I met these two guys - Adarsh and Ketan. That day only Prakshaya was leaving, so I made a plan with them to go on a day tour to Mussoorie. We exchanged our number and planned a place to meet in morning. After that I went to look for a place to stay. I spotted a decent looking hotel and went in to ask price. The manager was an old man and asked for Rs 800 a night, but as I was alone I gave my 'student hoon uncle' wala funda and managed to get the room for Rs 250. Yeah that's correct :D 250 !! That too with a cozy double bed, room service, hot water, TV n all :D I read my novel for a while, went all over again the day in my head and went to sleep.Now, we booked Indica with an awesome driver for a day for Rs 3500, which included roaming around Mussoorie, Dhanaulti, Kanatal, Dehradoon and back to Tapovan.

On this independence day, Standing on the terrace I was bit high ;) People were flying kites. They were more interested in cutting other’s kites rather than enjoying their own flight. With the sun setting down, the sky was painted in orange colour, The birds flying back to their homes. I stood amazed by the marvelous of the Qutub Minar , surrounded by the green patch of land. Each minute a flight descends as its belly touches the tip of qutub minar in the long distance. The winds were gushing all over. I was standing on the edge of the cliff. I wanted to FLY . One ,two and three, I jumped off the platform. It took me three seconds to realize that I wasn’t flying but falling rapidly. Didn’t know when that 83 mts is going to end. STOP. Let’s go a week behind. 7 panick attacks in 5 days. With enough disappointments and frustrations I had a huge spat with my best friend. I started my bike at 0300 hrs. Being tired to failing to reach every pre fixed destinations of life, I chose to travel now with no destination. I wore my army combat pants and boots which eliminated the last thoughts. I hit the highways, the roads were empty, the sun played hide and seek with the clouds. Though I ve heard all songs in my playlist, I understood it for the first time. I reached a family friends place in Dehradun for lunch. Uncle and my dad served together 12 years back in Delhi. Me and his two kids ,now as adults reminisced the little fun we had during childhood , testing each others memory. The next day I planned to visit mussoorie and stay for the night. Since I don’t like crowded place, I took a diversion to bhatta falls. A classy 5 step water falls. The minimal population made it a perfect place to enjoy certain solitude. I trekked along the waters to sit on a stone n the middle of the river. It was bit sunny and I rose to leave. Reached the view points of mussoorie and recced through the mall roads. It was yet 1500 hrs. I decided to ride further more to escape the crowd. As I started a sign borad pops up- Dhanaulti ( 36 kms). As I reached Dhanaulti, the temperature dropped to around 12 degree celcius. All I had as a sweat shirt and every time the wind blew , cold crawled through my face. A nice room for 500 bucks. I had two cups of chai and sat in the corridor facing the step civilization. Few bunches of houses here and there inbetween the valley. I ate half kilos of chicken all by myself and squirmed into the cozy blankets. I switched on the Tv to watch ABD smash all balls over the boundary. He was then playing for RCB. I woke up as the morning sun warmed up the air. The owner said, I should visit tehri dam before leaving

It was my second week of course work classes at college and I was already frustrated with daily formalities and boring lectures. I prepared a mental plan to visit Mussoorie with few of my seniors or friends. Mind you such mental plans I keep on making almost once or twice of every month. So, finally Friday evening arrived and I thought knowing the busy schedule of other people that why not I go alone. There was a safe side to it since I knew about the destination and all the roads leading to it. The unsafe part was the weather. It was the month of July and a heavy rainfall was happening everywhere leading to the possibility of land slides in hilly areas. But then I thought well that can be taken up as another challenge. I have to go and experiment with this one. An inner voice literally pushed me from outside. So at around 11 pm on Friday I was surfing through this site called ' Trivago' and somehow booked my hotel in Mussoorie for one night. It cost me around 2000 Indian rupees and I was pretty satisfied by the photographs of the room and the hotel. The name of the hotel was - hotel Basera at mall road near Gandhi chowk. For a minute after booking the hotel I could not believe that I did the booking. It was so unusual for a person like me to do such a thing. It was very random and quick. But this act pushed me to pack my bags and set my alarm of 6 am next morning. I informed my senior about my to be adventurous trip and told her if you still find me sleeping in my room the next morning then you can assume that I didn't left at all .But the opposite happened; I got up around 5 am and left my hostel around 6 am.On arriving at the bus stand which is quite near to my college gate I completely forgot about the Kanwar season. This a brief reminder to everyone that there is a Kanwar yatra that happens in the monsoon season near Haridwar which is an annual pilgrimage of devotees of lord Shiva in which these people fetch holy water of river Ganga and travel to their native places on foot in order to offer the holy water to the local Shiva temples. Currently, this religious yatra has become quite unsafe for other pedestrians and travelers because of many reasons that I cannot discuss here. So, I saw everywhere these Kanwar people looking suspiciously at me and I was really worried about how will I get on the bus to Dehradun alone. But I gathered courage and went on with my general inquiry for the bus. See here I would like to say if the God's wish matches with your wish then no matter what you will complete the task and your wish will be fulfilled. These lines are put here because the moment I stepped near the inquiry counter I found my two juniors waiting for the same bus. Oh! what a relief I got after seeing them. The journey to Dehradun in a bus that costed me around 81 Indian rupees went really good. We chatted a lot throughout the journey and I found out that these people were going to a place called Chamba on bikes which they were going to hire from Dehradun.On arriving at Dehradun ISBT, I took a blue colored sharing tempo which is called ' Vikram' in this area to Mussoorie bus stand. The ride cost me 10 rupees. I reached the Mussoorie bus stand and took my ticket to Mussoorie of about 56 rupees. The beautiful bus journey to Mussoorie made my small attempt fruitful. The moment I saw the mountains my heart jumped with excitement.' It is always the same with mountains. Once you have lived with them for any length of time, you belong to them. There is no escape'- Ruskin BondThese beautiful lines came to my mind on the journey. I was getting a bit sleepy and dizziness was what I was experiencing probably due to the hills and no breakfast in the morning. A huge mistake. I learned this lesson that whenever one is leaving for a journey morning breakfast is a must. Because this thought dawned upon me that who will take care of me if I fall ill here. I don't have any companion. But thankfully on arriving at the hill station all the dizziness and sleep just faded. It was raining at moderate scale and I had a task in front of me to search for my hotel Basera. Upon inquiry, I found out the directional signage and followed the trail. Honestly in the middle, I felt as if whether I have committed another mistake of booking a shady hotel or not. The thought that sometimes what is shown on the net is not what is, in reality, came inside my tiny brain. I prepared a mental countermeasure to it that is to leave Mussoorie by afternoon. But surprisingly the hotel was very good and safe beyond my expectation. It was an off-season for tourists but still there was a lot of crowd in the hill station and also in the hotel that I booked. I found my room very cosy , neat, clean and safe.

5. Mussoorie -If you are looking for a weekend reprieve, Mussoorie should be at the top of your list. Widely known as the ‘Queen of Hills’ – this paradise on Earth is everything you can hope to look for. The natural beauty attracts tourists from across the country. Situated at around 7000ft, Mussoorie will give you breathtaking views of snow-capped peaks as well as the stunning Doon valley. It definitely is one of the best weekend getaways from Delhi.

20. The comfortable beauty of MussoorieNestled in the bosom of the Garhwal ranges is the beautiful Mussoorie, considered to be one of the top hill stations in India. Around 30 kilometres away from Dehradun, Mussoorie is referred to as the Queen of the Hills. The awesome view of the Himalayan Range that one gets to see from here is to die for thus propelling it as one of the top hill stations in India.

Mussoorie’s ghat is one of the most challenging ghats, I have driven. it's around 25 kilometers long ghat but its fun to drive. The challenge with this ghat is, though you are a good driver but people over here are nasty; they will not Honk on blind turns, they will overtake you on the risky roads and to top it all they will abuse you for driving slow. I was like what the hell :-|If you want a more challenging road then one must take the route via HaathiPaao. This seemed to be a newly built road, without any traffic, without any barricades, without any signboards, absolutely nothing except sharp and risky turns. Pooja and Bandi turned off the music, were mum and just hoping to move out as soon as possible. The beauty of this road was epic; mountain peaks covered with clouds, roads foggy, and mist in the air. I thoroughly enjoyed the ride.

Mussoorie9. Café By the WayCafe By The Way is one of those places where the ambience just can't go wrong, anytime any day. The place serves the best coffee in town and the innovative decor of the place will put you in a good mood right away.

MussoorieNext day early morning was target was exploring the Famous Hill station Mussoorie, due to time constraint, travelled to mussoorie with booked taxi car. Merely 38 Kms but the zig zag roads and the mountaneous view was worth watching. Mussoorie is at the elevation 2005 mtr.Chekouts & Significance:Kempty Falls : One can have a chilling experience and enjoy the Kempty Falls, chilled water flowing from the Foohills of himalaya Mountain, Though the place is highly commercialized with a boundary at the base of the water fall, we get to enjoy the chilled water freezing us still refreshing us. A ride through the Rope way or walk through the steps.One can have a bath & swim around, There is facility of changing clothes & get clothes on rent for Rs 10-20 /- . Company Garden : Its is a Place to have a watch on beautiful flowers planted and a walk through the garden and click some beautiful pictures.Can spend quiet time viewing the nature here. There is a wax museum to have a look on some wax statues there, true hard work.There are some eat out joints too. A small pond where you can paddle in a boat.Mall Road : A shopping destination at evening, you can gorge on some delicious local North dishes (Chole, Puri, Bhatura, Ras Malai... Yumm! it was) and travel through the Rope way, play some childhood games at uphill plateau, watch the scenic views, Parvati Temple.There is point wherein you can have a view through the telescope at the highest point of Mussorie- Lal Tibba, Old schools , Himalayan Foothills, Gadhwal Village, Nepali Kings Palace.These are the places to explore in case mussoorie is more than 1 day trip.Mussoorie Lake : Its is place with food joints besides a lake at the centre, i must say all the food items were expensive here.. Adventure sports such as paragliding, Bubble water walk, Mountain Biking etc are available, Can Try Paragliding after necessary bargaining as the time given to us for the glide lasts only for 30-40 sec. Dhanaulti is a hill station 24 kms from Mussoorie, altitude of 2280 Mtr and has quiet environment amidst in natures lap. People enjoy over night camping here. Eco park, sukanda devi temple are places to visit.Breathtaking view of our own Himalaya, Gadhwal himalaya is possible from here. To visit the snow cladded himalayan ranges is dream of many of us.. Mine is too on cards may be soon.

"The Queen Of Hills" as is popularly known, Mussoorie covers an expanse of beautifully located hills at a drive of 1 hour from Dehradun. The fog clad moutains, steep yet curvy roads, the lush of green covering habitations and the chillness of the january winter are all to die for. Despite the abundant tourist spots about its periphery, a nomadic escapade through these hills unravels the culture and achitecture of this once colonial summer retreat.

Dehradun is easily one of the most popular hill stations in India. Though easily accessible by all modes of transportation, taking the road would be the best way to experience this heaven. The drive will take you through dense forests on the hilly road and if you're lucky, you might even see a wild elephant or leopard pass you by. The fresh and dewy hill air will infiltrate your lungs and put you in a great mood right away.
In terms of things to see, there is Robber's Cave, a river cave formation and Sahashtradhara, which is also a stunning sight of nature consisting of sulphur springs. But more than its sights, Dehradun is the perfect place for a family getaway. After all it has everything that you could need for a relaxing holiday. The town has many vintage bookshops (Natraj Publishers, The English Book Depot), college campuses with hilly backdrops, architectural marvels (such as the Forest Research Institute), alleys filled with quaint restaurants, adventure sports gear shops and forest resorts and hotels to fit every budget. Vishranti, a resort tucked away discreetly in the Sal forests of the Doon valley, deserves a special mention for its beauty and luxury. The city is a haven for foodies as Dehradun offers a lot of variety and affordability in its cuisine. Restaurants and cafes such as Doon Darbar, renowned for devour-worthy Mughlai dishes and The Buffet for its mouthwatering burgers, cutlets and coffee, are popular options. Read More

Dehradun is easily one of the most popular hill stations in India. Though easily accessible by all modes of transportation, taking the road would be the best way to experience this heaven. The drive will take you through dense forests on the hilly road and if you're lucky, you might even see a wild elephant or leopard pass you by. The fresh and dewy hill air will infiltrate your lungs and put you in a great mood right away.
In terms of things to see, there is Robber's Cave, a river cave formation and Sahashtradhara, which is also a stunning sight of nature consisting of sulphur springs. But more than its sights, Dehradun is the perfect place for a family getaway. After all it has everything that you could need for a relaxing holiday. The town has many vintage bookshops (Natraj Publishers, The English Book Depot), college campuses with hilly backdrops, architectural marvels (such as the Forest Research Institute), alleys filled with quaint restaurants, adventure sports gear shops and forest resorts and hotels to fit every budget. Vishranti, a resort tucked away discreetly in the Sal forests of the Doon valley, deserves a special mention for its beauty and luxury. The city is a haven for foodies as Dehradun offers a lot of variety and affordability in its cuisine. Restaurants and cafes such as Doon Darbar, renowned for devour-worthy Mughlai dishes and The Buffet for its mouthwatering burgers, cutlets and coffee, are popular options.

This city has been a refuge for spiritual seekers long before The Beatles christened it with their visit in the 60's. Widely known as the pilgrimage town and also the 'yoga capital of the world', Rishikesh is home to myriad temples, yoga and meditation centres and a plethora of adventure activities.
With an interesting backdrop of the rapid flowing Ganges river and iron-made suspension bridges (Laxman Jhula and Ram Jhula), the city has also been a popular hub for travellers and backpackers alike. When it comes to food and drinks, Rishikesh remains a strict teetotaller and a vegetarian, even though you might find with great exploratory skills, a few restaurants not adhering to the prohibition. Some great restaurants and cafes include Little Buddha Cafe where you can enjoy your meals in a treehouse-style ambience.
Rishikesh provides a spectacular treat to the eyes and music to the ears during sunrise and sunset, as sadhus (priests), pilgrims and tourists all around, prepare for the routine 'Ganga Aarti' with temple bells resonating all around and innumerable diyas or small clay pot lit lamps dancing over the river Ganga to that reverberating music, as religious offerings.
Rishikesh warmly welcomes thrill seekers, who can try out a number of activities such as white water rafting, bungee jumping, kayaking, zip lining, mountain biking and rappelling. The city also annually hosts the International Yoga Festival where yoga gurus, aficionados and devotees from around the globe throng the place (popularly the Parmarth Niketan Ashram) and give various lessons and lectures on yoga, meditation and spirituality. Read More

This city has been a refuge for spiritual seekers long before The Beatles christened it with their visit in the 60's. Widely known as the pilgrimage town and also the 'yoga capital of the world', Rishikesh is home to myriad temples, yoga and meditation centres and a plethora of adventure activities.
With an interesting backdrop of the rapid flowing Ganges river and iron-made suspension bridges (Laxman Jhula and Ram Jhula), the city has also been a popular hub for travellers and backpackers alike. When it comes to food and drinks, Rishikesh remains a strict teetotaller and a vegetarian, even though you might find with great exploratory skills, a few restaurants not adhering to the prohibition. Some great restaurants and cafes include Little Buddha Cafe where you can enjoy your meals in a treehouse-style ambience.
Rishikesh provides a spectacular treat to the eyes and music to the ears during sunrise and sunset, as sadhus (priests), pilgrims and tourists all around, prepare for the routine 'Ganga Aarti' with temple bells resonating all around and innumerable diyas or small clay pot lit lamps dancing over the river Ganga to that reverberating music, as religious offerings.
Rishikesh warmly welcomes thrill seekers, who can try out a number of activities such as white water rafting, bungee jumping, kayaking, zip lining, mountain biking and rappelling. The city also annually hosts the International Yoga Festival where yoga gurus, aficionados and devotees from around the globe throng the place (popularly the Parmarth Niketan Ashram) and give various lessons and lectures on yoga, meditation and spirituality.

Why Rishikesh?There are various no of reasons why Rishikesh is the best location for white water rafting amongst all the other places.1. Unlike other places Rishikesh is near to the heart of the country I.e. Delhi which makes it easily approachable in a day. It is one of the best weekend escape… Hence if someone wants to wash his evils by holy dip in Ganges then it's better to go for rafting then Haridwar ????????2. It is connected via road and train. Hence one can catch a bus or train and if someone is a road trip enthusiast then riding down is the best option to make your adventure more thrilling… the soothing highway, the small roads and the curvy mountains, this road trip has it all in a limited distance. It makes us enjoy the ride without exhausting ourselfs before the start of our adventure…3. Rishikesh offers a lot more than just rafting. Here one can have asia’s highest and India’s only bungy jump, flying fox and other adventure activities along with numerous camping location which are the best for refreshing from the exhausted mind, full of week’s work.4. This trip can be planned in any time of the year except June to September.5. The whole package in Rishikesh is economical as compare to the various other locations…. Hence anyone can plan for it but someone said once the best trips are the one without planning… hence Rishikesh is one such place you don't need to plan much and check your pocket every now and then.The DriveThe drive to Rishikesh is 6 hrs of journey from Delhi… it's a wonderful mega highway till Roorkee where your bike will be flying cross 100 and you can enjoy the smooth road… then comes a bit rough patch while crossing Roorkee and ahead is again a clean highway till Haridwar. From Haridwar one will taste the beginning of Himalayan mountains and its curvy roads seducing you.The CampingRishikesh city provides packages for everyone, like whether if you want to do camping and rafting combo or single part alone. One can take a camping package to spend the night. Some enthusiast also pitch their own tents and make their own bonfire... but the point is, one must spend a night near river bed, tent at one side, bonfire to other with music in background, some beer in hand and most importantly your best bud along with you to cherish this moment with you(thanks to my coursemate for being part of this). In the morning, the camps also provide lots of sports activities like volleyball, trekking and various other things. after having a decent breakfast one can move on to the task of the day. These camping sites provide all three meals of the day. The Garhwali cooks best known for their spicy food will provide the homely meals which is being enjoyed by all.Note: Rishikesh is a dry town. Hence it's better to carry liquor from starting or one have to drive down till Shivpuri or raiwala to get liquor.

RISHIKESH - UttrakhandI have been to Rishikesh many times. Rishikesh is actually a perfect weekend gateway. It has everything which a traveler is looking for. The best memory is of Bunjee Jumping at Jumpin Heights.Death Defying experience | Bungee Jumping | Extreme Adventure | Camping – RishikeshRest some captures, which are very close to my heart.

The time we were in Rishikesh was off season for the much looked upon tourist place. We Indians mostly don't travel to north during winters, but it was the wanderlust that took me to the place much vacant during that time of year. You would mostly find aborigines, hippies, saints and all kind of different people there looking for peace.Reaching Rishikesh bus stand, we gave a call to one of our contact and he told us to come further to Tapovan. Tapovan is a small town 8kms from Rishikesh. The auto dropped us at Laxman Jhula. i I didn't wanted to stay in hotel or something, I came here to be in the wilderness, so I chose to live in it and experience it. We told him that we want to stay in Riverside camp, but he insisted to stay in hotel as these camps are normally unpopulated at this point of time. Anyways we booked a camp.During the season time it would have costed us 3500/person or even more, but we managed to book the camp for 1700/person which included night stay at riverside camp, bon fire, rafting, snacks, dinner and breakfast. We headed towards the camp then.It was at shivpuri, further 12km from Tapovan, we were told to book a cab from there which would have costed us like 500bucks but the camp manager was kind enough to allow us in the Jeep that was on the way to camp for running errands.

Rishikesh Rafting
This one’s for all the adrenaline lovers out there! Brave the fierce, frothing rapids of the mighty Ganges with nothing but a tiny raft, a crew of screeching friends and a smirking instructor on your side. Once you emerge from the freezing waters, craving for more, try your hand at the wide range of adventure sports, such as flying fox, kayaking, valley crossing, and the wildest of them all—cliff jumping! Huddle around the roaring campfire at night, gazing at the constellations above and you’ll realize just how beautiful life and friendship are.

Rishikesh has a plethora of things to do and see, for all kinds of travellers. If you are looking for some peace and quiet, head out to yoga and meditation ashrams that are picturesquely located on the banks of Ganga. If you are a sporty person, then rafting in the river is something you should definitely try. Everything said and done, Rishikesh is without a doubt an exciting destination to visit in India.How to reach Rishikesh:Rishikesh is well connected by road and rail. The best option is to take a bus straight to Rishikesh, or drive down there yourself.

One destination's stories I lend my ears to, every summers, is Rishikesh. The aura of the place is such that attracts youngsters to it every year. So being the hotspot, this time I decided to make it a part of my travel plan. And after experiencing the liveliness of the place, I was compelled to scribble my thoughts and experience of the trip.Day 1Our road trip started 22nd April 2016 early morning. Chit chatting, munching and galloping, taking naps and caught by the attention of adventure, we reached Rishikesh by mid-day.Located downhill (Havel River Cottage and Rafting Camps), with a perfect river side ambience, our cottage offered impressive naïve countryside feel.

Rishikesh is 20 Km from Haridwar and we were in mood to enjoy the ride as the road passes from the forest area having some great views. It took 45 minutes to reach Rishikesh. Our first stop in Rishikesh is near by the Ram jhula. This is the point where rafting ends. We were sitting on the ghats and enjoying the scene by putting our feet in the chilled water. We saw the groups of people enjoying the rafting there and after watching them we decided to go for rafting. I called up one of my friend who is the owner of a rafting and camping company. He managed 9 KM rafting for us which starts from Brahmpuri and ends on Ram jhula.

If you live in Rishikesh, Haridwar or Dehradun, I am sure you are always looking for quick trip for weekends. Even if you are not in these cities but you visit Rishikesh quite often from Delhi or Haryana, you want to do more than regular attractions like Ram Jhula and Lakshman Jhula. There are lot of quick trips around Rishikesh but most of these are getting popular with time and crowded (thanks for ever growing tourism industry).During our recent trip to hometown Rishikesh, we recently did a quick trip to VindhyaWasini Temple which is situated in Rajaji Tiger Reserve (also know as Rajaji National Park). It's very close to Rishikesh, around 23 km. The road passes through Cheela Dam Road and after a point it's not great motorable road. The trip involved adventure of rough terrain, passing through several water stream and spectacular view from top. You can complete the whole trip in 4 to 5 hours and lifetime of memories. Here are few tips and pictures of Trip.1. After a point, road is very rough, so don't take low clearing cars.

“Don't give yourself time to hesitate or contemplate because once the fear sets in your legs won’t let you leap”. I barely paid heed to what the handsome New Zealander was whispering into my ears.Words of motivation, words of philosophy, nothing works when you are looking down 83 meters. 83 meters into a rocky valley with a stream trickling by. You either jump or regret your fear ,all your life.“Look at that yellow spot in front of you and then leap towards success”. How can I look anywhere else but below? I can hear the stream gushing, I can see the deep valley, I can see a spec of spectators waiting for me to leap. My eyes kept darting down and my brain pleaded me to back down, but my heart mumbled a feeble’ let go’. I guess the feeble voice from my heart overpowered the loud shouts in my head, and I let go.“3 2 1, Now”. Without any second thoughts or slightest of hesitations, my legs impulsively took off and I recklessly plummeted down; upside down. I could barely catch my breath or keep my eyes open, but I was smiling. I jerked back up and bounced back down again, around 3 to 4 times, and all I could hear was my scream of freedom echoing , and my heart snickering to my head an “ I told you so”.Trees stemming from branches and leaves ; not roots, standing on cotton candy clouds ; not on rocky grounds, the stream gushing by above your head ; not below you and people standing upside down; a rather funny sight. Familiar faces are hard to recognize when you’re hanging upside down.The minute your hands feel comfortable clinging onto something, the “madcap” quotient of any adventure sport depreciates. While bungee jumping, you have nothing to hold on to, nothing to grab onto but yourself. To top it all, you’re hanging upside down. It may not be pleasant in the beginning, but its reinvigorating.“Don’t let this smile leave your face”, I realized I hadn’t stopped smiling ever since I took that plunge. My hands were freely suspended in the air and the wind was exuberantly kissing my face and somewhere between all that I knew I had conquered acrophobia. Somewhat.That night while sleeping, my heart kept lunging and my stomach kept cramping every time i thought about that moment when my feet glided off the bridge. What was I thinking when I dived ? Anything could have happened! The rope could have snapped, I could have snapped a bone with all that jerking and bouncing. ANYTHING. Thankfully it didn't happen, but what in the world made me take off like that without a second thought?I guess I'll keep pushing myself till I find the answer to that. Bloukrans bridge, you’re next. Sky diving, you’re in line.DetailsWhere: Jumping heights, Rishikesh. It is the highest bungee spot in India with a fall of 83 meters.Why: You have only a lifetime to push beyond your comfort zone. If not now, then when ?How much : Rs.3500 for the jump, Rs.100 as the entry ticket. Its worth it!Tips :Wear shoes . They feel more comfortable with all that gear wrapped around your legs.Clothes tend to adhere to gravity and fall back revealing your beautiful body. As much as the people below enjoy the view, wear tight clothes or tuck in your shirts.DO NOT HESITATE, no matter what. Leap and let go !PS. Sorry for the low resolution pictures taken off the internet .I had to lock up my camera before entering the site. No picture or video can remotely capture the thrill of this experience, hence no complaints!.

Chail has slowly gained popularity as a weekend getaway in Himachal. Away from the chaos of Shimla, this lovely town is home to the highest cricket ground in the world (a great sight even if you are not a cricket fan). The popular Chail Palace built by the Maharaja of Patiala is the perfect place to spend a leisurely afternoon. Do carry a picnic basket since food here is slightly expensive.
Unlike Shimla, Chail is a quiet town without a mall road or fancy restaurants. What you will certainly get here is a variety of homestays to choose from and delicious dhaba food. For adventure enthusiasts, there are tons of trekking routes; some of the more popular ones are Kandaghat – Chail, Chail – Rajgarh and Chur Chandni and Chail – Shimla via Junga. Do ask the locals before planning your trekking routes since they know the area the best. Read More

Chail has slowly gained popularity as a weekend getaway in Himachal. Away from the chaos of Shimla, this lovely town is home to the highest cricket ground in the world (a great sight even if you are not a cricket fan). The popular Chail Palace built by the Maharaja of Patiala is the perfect place to spend a leisurely afternoon. Do carry a picnic basket since food here is slightly expensive.
Unlike Shimla, Chail is a quiet town without a mall road or fancy restaurants. What you will certainly get here is a variety of homestays to choose from and delicious dhaba food. For adventure enthusiasts, there are tons of trekking routes; some of the more popular ones are Kandaghat – Chail, Chail – Rajgarh and Chur Chandni and Chail – Shimla via Junga. Do ask the locals before planning your trekking routes since they know the area the best.

Do you happen to love cricket? If yes, then this Shimla itinerary has been tailored just for you. Chail boasts of world's highest cricket ground and given its scenic backdrop it is a must visit for you.

The place is known as the summer capital which is located 49 kilometers away from Shimla and it appears as a peaceful and calm place because it is far away from Shimla’s hustling- bustling life. Chail is located at a higher altitude than Shimla and it is very close to Kandaghat Mandal and due to this, people can enjoy the glance of the snow covered Himalayan ranges as it is mostly visible during the sunrise and sunset. This hill station is well known for its remarkable history. It is said that in the late nineteenth century, his highness of Patiala, Maharaja Adhiraj Bhupinder Singh was expelled from Shimla, which was then known as British Raj’s summer capital, because he was said to be flirting with the daughter of British Commander-in-Chief Lord Kitchener. He then promised to build his own summer capital. Chail is called as the perfect village surrounded with thick, gigantic and majestic deodar trees and soothing scented chir pine forests. This village is like the Mother Nature’s most beloved child and this place has never been heard of any deforestation and pollution ever.
Chail has a very beautiful feature and well known as an architectural palace where the Patiala’s royal family used to live and now this heritage property has been converted into a hotel named as ‘Palace Hotel’. This palace is surrounded by lush greenery and hills and beautiful gardens with swings and beautiful flowers. We sat in the garden for few minutes under the sun and then we went inside for tea break. We saw the interiors which had a collection of old depictions like old paintings, show pieces, etc. Chail is also a favourite honeymoon spot as this slice of heaven has the magic to turn people into a poet and transforms into the most romantic person.
On 11th April 2006 - We came across the ‘Green valley’ road, which is been surrounded by deodar trees. This road is also known as ‘Hasan Valley’ road as this valley is related to a sweet story. It is said that ‘Hasan’ is the name of a driver who used to drive on the roads of this valley for the tourists and who has been of friendly nature with the tourists. It is been said that the driver ‘Hasan’ was in love with a beautiful girl who used to love him equally and she was considered precious to him for her love and care. But her sudden death left him alone and since that day, the road has been given another name as ‘Hasan Valley’.

Best time to visit - January,February,March,April,May,June,October,November,December

Once known as Shyamala, synonymous with Goddess Kali, Shimla has been a summer retreat long before India even gained independence.
This famous hill station similarly has a lot of places and things to see untouched by time. For instance, take a vintage joy ride from Kalka station to Shimla in a charming toy train that will take you through towering Deodars, hills and villages. Shimla truly comes alive during winters when a blanket of snow covers it all over making every nook and corner gleam and glisten. One such place is the ice skating rink (natural ice) near Lakkar Bazaar that opens from November to December. More winter sports include skiing, which can be enjoyed 21 km from Shimla in Kufri. Adventure activities such as rafting at Tattapani or a trek to Shali Tibba and Pabbar Valley are also worthwhile experiences.
If you are fond of haunted stories and interested in having your own spooky adventure, you'll love Shimla. A lot of people including the renowned Rudyard Kippling (in 'My Own True Ghost Story) have written various eerie stories set around Shimla. A place known most for giving many people the jeepers-creepers is the Charleville Mansion.
Another time travelling portal is the antique bookstore, Marina Brothers, located on Mall Road, which is truly a reader and collector's paradise.
There are many luxury and budget hotels here, meaning you'll never fall short of options. Popular places to eat include Wake & Bake, Ashiana, Cecil and Minchy's that serve commendable Indian and multi-cuisine dishes and delicious gourmet food.Read More

Once known as Shyamala, synonymous with Goddess Kali, Shimla has been a summer retreat long before India even gained independence.
This famous hill station similarly has a lot of places and things to see untouched by time. For instance, take a vintage joy ride from Kalka station to Shimla in a charming toy train that will take you through towering Deodars, hills and villages. Shimla truly comes alive during winters when a blanket of snow covers it all over making every nook and corner gleam and glisten. One such place is the ice skating rink (natural ice) near Lakkar Bazaar that opens from November to December. More winter sports include skiing, which can be enjoyed 21 km from Shimla in Kufri. Adventure activities such as rafting at Tattapani or a trek to Shali Tibba and Pabbar Valley are also worthwhile experiences.
If you are fond of haunted stories and interested in having your own spooky adventure, you'll love Shimla. A lot of people including the renowned Rudyard Kippling (in 'My Own True Ghost Story) have written various eerie stories set around Shimla. A place known most for giving many people the jeepers-creepers is the Charleville Mansion.
Another time travelling portal is the antique bookstore, Marina Brothers, located on Mall Road, which is truly a reader and collector's paradise.
There are many luxury and budget hotels here, meaning you'll never fall short of options. Popular places to eat include Wake & Bake, Ashiana, Cecil and Minchy's that serve commendable Indian and multi-cuisine dishes and delicious gourmet food.

Delhi - ShimlaSo finally it was happening, after a year of reading and researching about Spiti with a fail attempt to make it worse, I was sitting in the auto to Kashmere Gate and hoping this time it's a success. I was late and had to call for the bus to wait 5 minutes as I procrastinated the whole day and got ready late in the evening, but, the people were kind enough to wait!____Probably slept for a couple of hours in the entire bus journey as the excitement was just increasing. Reached Shimla around 5am and had to wait for 4 hours to catch the bus to Kalpa!

Gaziabad to Shimla around 380 km - 8 hours journey - Two road options, one from Meerut and other from Panipat. Both are good roads. I personally used Panipat road, excellent high way good for eateries (specially good quality of oranges find on the road side sellers).

And while riding I will speak to roads and said "I will definitely came back because I know that is lot many you want to say to me, for the sake of conversation i ll be there again soon"
This is the all time favorite question by traveler friends and colleagues. They often ask me "hey Nick. What your budget?" "How many Bucks you have this time?" "Please don't say wallet less" This type of question i go through most frequenty on my facebook page nickthevagabond and that's the reason I have to make it clear this time about our budget and how we manage.
The only thing which I don't like about solo traveling that its almost double expensive then if you go with the group. Yes when you were travel with group everything divides like hotel rent, you can share a cab, share the food, sometime I share the Ice-cream too. So if you travel with the group of 2-3 people it will probably half your budget.
Our budget is very tight it doesn't means that we skip our dinner or lunch, or we sleep on the roads. No nothing like that happen we are always have a choice to save or spend.
we stay in total 5 Dhabas, 3 hotels and you didn't believe one hotel is three star which is at Pokhara(Nepal) which is the most expensive one but actually the fact is that, Pokhara is our last destination in Nepal and we already save a lot of Nepalese currency. As we plan to spend all the Nepalese currency into the Nepal itself. So we took a amazing hotel and it's too very cheap i.e. 700 Nepalese rupees i.e. around $12. And we did Rafting, and ate special Nepalese sea food and even they didn't know the name it doesn't matter, I am so Hungry at that time, so least Interested in having a name of the dish which i am eating. (but it was good)
After crossing the border we stick to our Budget and proud of ourself. But at Lucknow there is a place called Tunde kababi(a famous restaurant ), it's the most Famous for Tunde ke kabab, Beef, biryanis and many more, its a restaurant in the messy street of Aminabad, Lucknow.
Never ruin your Travel experience, for the sake of fucking money. "Money" that we ll make it. But we never be able to make those moments which we leave for that fucking $10 to $15 or $50 sometimes.
So at last we are happy spending and it don't matters whatever our Budget is but one thing I would like to say that we didn't miss anything accept the Para gliding at Pokhara, but there is always a next time.
Nepal does not have a distinct cooking style. However, food habits differ depending on the region. Nepali food has been influenced by Indian and Tibetan styles of cooking. Authentic Nepali taste is found in Newari and Thakai cuisines. Most Nepalis do not use cutlery but eat with their right hand.The regular Nepali meal is dal (lentil soup), bhat (boiled rice) and tarkari (curried vegetables), often accompanied by achar (pickle). Curried meat is very popular, but is saved for special occasions, as it is relatively more expensive. Momos (steamed or fried dumplings) deserve a mention as one of the most popular snack among Nepalis. Rotis (flat bread) and dhedo (boiled flour) also make meals in some homes.

6. Shimla Civic Centre, Himachal Pradesh – The pretty side of our colonial pastWhen the British turned their attention to Shimla as a potential summer retreat, a slew of colonial style buildings were erected which gave the town its unique look. This included the Christ Church, the Telegraph Office and the greystone Town Hall. But over the years, unplanned development and lack of proper maintenance has turned the colonial hill town into an urban eyesore, which is sad because otherwise it is a picturesque place. The Civic Center in Shimla is one of the four Indian buildings to be featured on World Monuments Fund's "at risk" list.

I boarded a bus to return to Shimla (not to Kufri, of course) and reached there around midday. The poor research before undertaking this little expedition of sorts had already given an unpalatable experience. And all I wanted to do was to rush back to Delhi for some peace of mind and also for equipping myself with the relevant information before I go on to travel afterwards.So, I booked a Volvo ticket for returning to Delhi from the Shimla bus stand.Since there were over three hours before the bus would leave, I thought of visiting Shimla’s Mall Road, the only place that I was familiar with. I booked a cab to go there. The very sight of Mall Road lifted my spirits so much so that my entire stress and exhaustion of the preceding day and night frittered away.There was a sense of freshness in the Mall Road and its surroundings. There were ice cream parlours, fine dining restaurants, benches where tourists can sit and relish the panoramic beauty in the backdrop. The place was a little crowded but being a Delhiite, the over-populated places make us rather feel comfortable, and not out of place.Visiting around the Mall Road was the only time when I felt like staying back for a couple of more days. But I wondered that it would be unwise to do so when I already had booked the ticket and the bus was set for departure in a couple of hours from then.After spending around two hours in Mall Road, I telephoned the cab driver and boarded the cab to return to Shimla Bus stand.As the Delhi-bound bus rolled on, I looked back in the direction of Mall Road thinking that I must return to the hill town later on for a relaxed, stress-busting and most importantly a well-planned holiday, preferably with a friend (s) to make the most of my travel.

We hired a room for 2 days and for market hopping fo exploring culture. Narkanda is not huge but it has something which makes it aloof from others.After hopping we got in touch with a resident of it and explored inside the woods for 4 hrs and it was just incredible.We just went berserk post beholding a mesmerising view of flora and fauna and we had not intention to leave that jubliant jungle.But we had lots more to visit.It came to our attention on the very next day that there a peak called Hatu Peak , which open only for 5 sundays in a year and that sunday was one of it .Hatu peak is a temple devoted to Ravana's Wife Mandodri and it is belief that by heart whatever you hankers for definated she will cater you.That's it ,Our face lit up with hope and we trekked to hatu peak which 7 kilo meters Stretch during the course with met with some awestruck cliffs and winding road accompanying Oaks ,pine and Deodar trees and it was supreme.After reaching to Hatu peak,we prayed there ,took the offering and witnessed how does it feel to be at highest peak of district ?. It was cold ,spine chilling weather and we were tanned badly but that did not deter our spirit.After admiring the breeze there we headed towards our last task that is meeting localites. Localites we so warm by nature there techniques were ancient to boil water , paid visit idyllics abodes and a local govt. school and it was awesome.As we were getting late ,we just landed at our room.Last night of our unplanned and wanted to make it memorable .

Shimla:Is the capital and largest city of the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. The major attractions include the Viceroy Lodge, the Christ Church, the Jakhoo Temple, the Mall Road and the Ridge, which together form the city centre. The Kalka–Shimla Railway line built by the British, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is also a major tourist attractionAfter reaching shimla in evening we went for the market stroll. Visited the city centre ,had some snacks and took some photographs and headed to our hotel "Pahuna Upvan" located on outskirt of Shimla by 8:30 pm and reached by 9:30 pm.Pahuna Upvan: A standard accommodation hotel. The finishing of room interior were amazingly done to give a luxurious feel. The room was on second floor and hence had an atic space for extra bed with amazing view outside. The staff of hotel were very warm and were serving us with hospitality beyond the fees charged. Yummy dinner was served. Not known to many but definitely a place to stay while you are in Shimla.Crashed on the sight of bed and woke up early morning at 6:00amDay 2: Shimla- Narkanda- Rampur- Sarahan- Sangla- RakchamDistance: 304 KmsTravel Time: 14hrsThis day was one of the longest travel day as we were suppose to drive 14hrs with in between sight seeing timeOur first pit stop for the day was Narkanda

As planned we left the hotel early at 4 am in the morning and started riding in the dark. The roads were better now but that wouldn’t reduce the 700 kms that we had to travel in 11-12 hours in hand. So we rode continuously apart from stopping at a place or two where the flock of cattle stopped us. We planned to reach Shimla which was 350 kms away by 9 in the morning. We rode continuously for around 4 hours until the bike started making weird noise after crossing Rampur. We stopped to check and found out that 4 of its spokes had given up. After trying our hands we realized that there was not much we could do about it and had to go to the nearest mechanic’s shop which was 10 kms away. He checked and said that he did not have the spokes but he could repair so we could continue. By then it was 10 and there was no more chances that I could make it to the joining in my new office. So I informed the same at my office and they were okay with me joining the next day. That was a huge sense of relief for both of us and now our target was to reach our home somehow in one piece. The bike was repair after almost 2 hours and resumed riding. The feeling that we were leaving the hills saddened us but we were more excited to get back home, take a fresh shower and have a short nap. So we kept on riding through the plane roads of NH-22. We passed different people, different villages, the sun shining high on us and reflecting mountains waving us goodbye. The roads just led one to another and we kept on riding. Our next stop was at a dhaba near Shimla at around 3 pm. We were hungry and starving so literally attacked the roti and tarkari and finished them in a moment. After 15 minutes we were on the roads once again. We were back into civilized people and polished roads. As we crossed through the crowd of Shimla, we saw people who looked very beautiful. Men and women alike had sharp features and they were all pink in color. We being boys somehow managed to pull our eyes of the girls and concentrated on riding. After few further hours of continuous riding we were tired now. It was getting dark and we wanted to leave the hills before it got darker. But it seemed unending now. The same hills that we were craving to see and feel while coming were becoming tiring now. We were continuously looking for the milestones which were marked as Chandigarh and rushing past them. At round 7 the hills had ended, we had left the amazing Himachal. We were now just seeing flashing headlights of cars and speeding through when our bike suddenly started making noise once again. We immediately got down and realized few more spokes had given up. Our hooligan was now tired and started giving up after the whole terrain. So we went to the nearest mechanic and got to know that he wouldn’t be able to repair it. Also he informed us that the nearest mechanic was nothing less than 15kms away. So we ourselves managed to put the spoke in some shape and started riding. After almost 10 km the bike started slipping so stopped and found out that the tire had punctured. It was 9.30 in the night and half of the shops had closed by now. I got down and my brother started walking the bike. We were searching everywhere for a mechanic but half of them were wither closed or not able to repair a royal enfield. After almost half an hour we finally found a person near Pinjore who was ready to repair. So after further one hour we were set with 10 spokes of our rear tire removed. We resumed our ride without any second looking back. Now we were doing a speed of 100 km/hr on an average and our destination was looking close as we were continuously passing several vehicles. We were passing the milestones in hush and home was looking closer. After a moment as we were crossing Punjab. We were hungry enough so chose to stop at a dhaba and have two big glasses of Lassi as we wanted to have dinner only at home. As we resumed I was enjoying the last few hours of our ride as I closed my eyes and a strong gush of wind hit my face. We were dominating the roads, our spoke-less ‘Hooligan’ was back into form. He was dipping the big Lorries and they were continuously allowing him the main road to rule on. After this event continued further for an hour or so we were now left with the last 100 kms. But as they say good things don’t continue for long. It was close to 12.30 in the night and the bike started vibrating once again and we found out that it was punctured for the 3rd time in the day and in a bitter situation than ever. We were standing by the side of the road as there was not a single person whom we could ask where the nearest mechanic was. So after standing there pointless for 5 minutes we started walking. The road was leading us nowhere. We were clue and idealess regarding the needful when we saw a small light at a distance. We went near and found a police person who took us to nearby mechanic where some were already drunk and some were WIP. One of this guys who was WIP introduced us to the mechanic whose eyes were already red and was about to fall. We showed him the puncture and the broken spokes and he straightway rejected the proposal of repairing it and got slapped by the other guy. In no moment we had become best friend to the WIP guy and he looked to have taken an oath to get our bike repaired. His name was Bhanu and ensured us that he would see that the bike is repaired by any means. As we were talking, another guy came from the shop and started offering us drink. As we refused his hospitality increased by a level and he offered us tea from the nearby dhaba and instructed one of his friends who had fallen asleep to bring two glasses of tea. He introduced himself as Mahavir, brother of Bhanu and bebrothered us as well. As series of universal brotherhood went on we could see that the mechanic was sitting and drooling holding the punctured rear wheel with the set of toolbox which he hadn’t touch yet. As Bhanu and Mahavir started introducing themselves we found out they were rugged son of rich local Hariyanwi farmers who did nothing apart from drinking during the night and sleeping during the day. As Bhanu started taking selfies with my brother, Mahabir started showing me pictures in his mobile in which where somewhere he was holding a revolver, somewhere he was hitting others. After a moment the tea came for us and we wouldn’t complain that we were not enjoying their company apart from the fact that our bike was not touched yet. As we informed Bhanu about the mechanic not doing his job he went ahead and slapped the mechanic once again and instructed him to repair. Now the mechanic seemed to put some attention to the bike. Sometimes we exchanged numbers, sometimes we heard rap composed and sung by Mahabir for us, sometimes they saw pictures of our ride. As this quandary continued for half an hour more, the bike’s tire was out of its realm and the mechanic after continuous effort was unable to take out the tube from the tire. So Bhanu was angry once again and now slapped a 10kg hammer over the tire. As he was returning after taking the tube out of the tire the mechanic informed us that the tube had a big hole which couldn’t be fixed anymore. We would have to get a new tube now at 1.30 in the midnight in some distant village of Haryana. We were getting disturbed and nervous, fun was over for us but we couldn’t do anything to help ourselves. Bhanu tried getting the tire from somewhere local but the results were obvious. After few more hours of this chaos we had lost all hopes and the mechanic had informed that the tire could only be fixed in the morning. So we requested them to somehow make us reach home and Bhanu offered his uncle’s car. So after paying Bhanu’s uncle a hefty amount of money we finally reached home with an incomplete ride and humongous amount of crazy memories that we only could cherish and look forward to once again all our lives.

We started our journey by boarding a train from Delhi to Kalka. From Kalka we took a taxi to reach Shimla where we relaxed overnight. Next morning we began our bus journey to reach Tosh, a beautiful and scenic village. There were two reasons of doing so- one of course to stay and explore the village; secondly Tosh is just 3 kilometers away from Barsheni, base camp for starting Kheerganga trek.

Best time to visit - January,February,March,April,October,November,December

An ancient holy town and the starting point for pilgrimages to the Kedarnath Temple and the Badrinath Temple, Haridwar is the first recipient of the mighty rapid and revered Ganges, originating from the Gangotri Glacier. Its vast mythological background, beautiful temples (Shanti Kunj Gayatri Parivar), spectacular festival celebrations and the world famous Kumbh Mela (hosted every 12 years) make it a popular destination to be visited from around the world.
Haridwar comes alive during sunset, when the evening aarti (ritual of worship) starts at Har Ki Pauri, a ghat (steps leading to a river) and the main attraction of the town where both the Ganga banks are lit up with floating claypot candles and chants of devotees and priests resonate musically throughout the town.
The religious city serves no alcohol anywhere and restaurants are strictly vegetarian too, some well known ones being, Big Ben Restaurant, Chotiwala and the Haveli Hari Ganga Restaurant. Read More

An ancient holy town and the starting point for pilgrimages to the Kedarnath Temple and the Badrinath Temple, Haridwar is the first recipient of the mighty rapid and revered Ganges, originating from the Gangotri Glacier. Its vast mythological background, beautiful temples (Shanti Kunj Gayatri Parivar), spectacular festival celebrations and the world famous Kumbh Mela (hosted every 12 years) make it a popular destination to be visited from around the world.
Haridwar comes alive during sunset, when the evening aarti (ritual of worship) starts at Har Ki Pauri, a ghat (steps leading to a river) and the main attraction of the town where both the Ganga banks are lit up with floating claypot candles and chants of devotees and priests resonate musically throughout the town.
The religious city serves no alcohol anywhere and restaurants are strictly vegetarian too, some well known ones being, Big Ben Restaurant, Chotiwala and the Haveli Hari Ganga Restaurant.

HARIDWAR - UttrakhandI have already written a blog on Tripoto itself, about my memories at this place. (Night Life at Haridwar- Uttrakhand | Are you brave enough to do it)

Day - 8: Haridwar to Bangalore via Jolly Grant & DelhiI awoke to my first alarm in days. We checked out and took a cab to Jolly Grant airport. The ride to the airport was almost as short as the flight to Delhi. In a matter of hours, I found myself smack dab in the middle of modern civilization. The mountains, a distant memory. Distant only, because I’d left them so far behind. The day wore on in the company of friends and beer, culminating with a late flight home.

The journey was long and it grew hotter as we descended. The A/C was doing its job worse than the solitary fan that served the driver. We stopped for lunch at a deserted resort where we put away some solid food. We reached Haridwar around half-past-seven and bid adieu to the others. I checked into a hotel with Amruta who was also flying to Delhi. True to its name, Hotel Midtown was right in the centre of the city, an overcrowded bustling street littered with shops of all sizes. Chaotic yet harmonious in a way only India can be. September sees the nation-wide celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi and the fervor was ten-fold here. As expected, we were bombarded by the sound of Ganesh processions well into the night. Being a light sleeper, it was a miracle that I got any at all. Perhaps I was too exhausted to care. Or perhaps it was the ridiculously heavy dinner that filled a gaping hole.

Day - 2: Haridwar to Govindghat The bus reached Haridwar at around 3AM and I checked into Hotel Chitra Grand, a couple of hundred metres from the city centre. Turns out, there were a few more people from my group staying there too. After a quick shower and a nap, we walked to the railway station where our pickup waited. A group of 15, we’d come together from across the country (One even from the Middle East) and we stood outside the railway station, together for the first time. We were to pick up our trek leader Kamal from Rishikesh. We later learned that he once held the record for the fastest basecamp to summit ascent for Mt. Everest. His modesty was even stronger than his resolve.Pro-tip: Skip the rickshaws and walk. Most of the hotels are very close by.Stashing our bags in the back of the TT, we began the arduous, 10-hour journey to Govindghat. The awkwardness of not knowing each other seemed to fade away with the fresh mountain air filling the cabin. We came from different walks of life, but all agreed on one thing; the need for a hearty breakfast.Driving for about 3 hours past a hundred restaurants with wafting aromas of freshly made paranthas, we stopped at one with a riverside view. Those who live for coffee will need to reevaluate their life’s purpose. The beige milky mess served here is nowhere close to Namma Pilter Kaapi. So it was Cappuci-NO-Thank-You for me. The paranthas hit like the Japs hit Pearl Harbor with no survivors. Wasn’t long before we were all counting imaginary sheep over fences as we drove onward. The air started to thin as we gained altitude and green hills gave way to vast gorges and imposing mountains with the Alaknanda always ambling along beside us. We stopped at the cramped town of Pipalkoti for a late lunch before we began the final leg of our journey, through the twists and turns of precariously carved rocks.

It was an impulsive decision and i knew it was going to be one of those good decisions when u don't think and just do...so was this trek. I had done Kedarkantha before so this one was one of easier trek, at least i thought so before booking it on 12 just to leave on 15th and an incredible journey started from Gujarat to Uttarakhand... journey started from Ahmedabad to Delhi by flight and Delhi to hardware via train and we reach Haridwar 7.30 am and vehicle was arranged to take us to Sari a small village from where we were going to start trekking from next day...On the way from Haridwar to Sari we saw Devprayag where there is a confluence of river Alaknanda and Bhagirathi to from River Ganga and you can see two shades of greens merge itself to from a mosaic pattern and then dissolve completely into one another and make one uniform shade.

The road from Delhi to Hardwar is almost good in condition, only a piece of 20-30KMs on which construction is under progress which is painful. We entered Haridwar at around 10:30 AM and reached Har ki Pauri at 11:00 AM.

You do not need a therapist if you own a motorcycle, any kind of motorcycle!It was my childhood dream to roam in the twisted roads of mountains withmy bike, to stop the bike on random turns and take snaps, to floatlike a fish in Ganges, to sit on the Ganges beach for hours, to drawrandom pictures on sand and enjoy the evening at the beaches of the holyriver "Ganges'"But I don't know how I can ??"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do." – Mark TwainSo I decided, I have to come out of my comfort zone and go for a roadtrip...Now the most important question is, who is my partner in this road trip. I have tried so many friends of mine, but every one is busy in their ownroutine. Finally I have a thought - "Road Trip with my cousin"And finally I got my partner in crimes, one of my Uncle's Son, whichbelongs to my age group, and ready to go with me.We are ready with a bike having full tank and 2 helmets and some other required stuffs that are essentials during our trip. We finalized the day of Saturday (05-Nov-2016) to start our trip at around 6:00 AM from my current city i.e. Noida. I left with a bag and a pair of helmet at 6:15 AM, 15 mins delay from the planned time. The next destination is Vasundahra, Gajiabad where my riding partner is waiting for me.We left the city at 6:30 AM and riding on highway from Mohan Nagar towards Meerut. In the first hour we covered the distance upto Meerut and took a halt for a tea break. After tea break we again started towards our destination.

And the trip starts - we started our journey from ISBT Kashmiri gate and the date is 24-Dec-2015, we got a bus up-to Haridwar at 23:00 hours and its an AC bus that have heaters to get a warm feeling during the winters and its just a blessing for us :)Buses take 5 to 7 hours up-to Haridwar from Delhi. We reached Haridwar at 06:00 hours as there was a very long traffic jam on the way and we have to halt there for more then 1 hour. It's a day of winter - We reached Haridwar at around 06:00 AM and its freezing temp there. And to remain alive we ordered Tea and Papdi from a tea stall run by a local person in front of Bus stand. After hat we were standing in a shop to purchase some warm cloths that helps us in defending our self from the winter. Har ki Pauri - Har ki Pauri is the main ghat in Haridwar. Ganga Aarti is performed on morning as well as on evening, and if you missed it than you miss the entire glamour of this place.We roam around the Har ki pauri ghat and enjoying the vibes. The winter is on the full charm so we are having cap on our head and gloves in hand. There are so many peoples who are taking bath in the holy water and performing some rituals there. We spend around an hour there and than we are moving towards the Mansa Devi temple.Mansa Devi - Mansa Devi is one of the most popular and most visited temples of Haridwar, Uttaranchal. The temple is dedicated to Mansa Devi, a form of Shakti (Power). Located at the top of Bilwa Parvat (Hill), Mansa Devi Temple can be reached by taking local buses, rickshaws or by hiring from Haridwar. In order to reach the hill-top, one can either go for trekking or for cable-car.Mansa Devi Temple is an ancient temple that attracts people from both far and near due to its significance. It is believed that the Goddess fulfills all the wishes of a sincere devotee. Actually, the term 'Mansa' is the altered form of word 'Mansha', which means 'wish'. On the top of the hill, there are many shops where coconuts, fruits, marigold garlands and incense sticks are available. These things are offered to the Goddess.There are 3 different modes available to reach the temple:1. Roapway: Its timing are 08:00 to 17:00 hours2. Stairs3. RoadWe choose the 2nd option. There are 800+ stairs up to the temple and it will take a lot of energy to get there from stairs. The cold breezes makes some difficulty to complete the journey, but we still take the challenge and complete the way in half an hour. There are so many shops on the way of temple on stairs that provide Prasadi and one can keep there shoes. The temple is located on too much height, and the entire scene is so much beautiful. We completed our Pooja and than sit there for half an hour there. The temple committee distributing Halwa Prasad, the best prasadi I ever had :)Apart from religious importance Haridwar is also a centre for learning different arts and culture. Haridwar is well known as great source of Ayurvedic medicines and herbal remedies. Haridwar is now home to unique Indian tradition of teaching &quot;Gurukula.&quot; Gurukula Kangri Vishwavidyalay is providing unique teaching in Gurukul system since 1902.Haridwar is always place of interest for the researchers because it is one of the oldest living cities in India. Haridwar has numerous temples with interesting legacies. Maa Ganga after carrying the purity of heaven from the kamandal of Lord Brahma, washing the feet of Lord Vishnu and flowing through the sahastrara of Lord Shiva came on this earth and made Haridwar as it's divine flow area. From time immemorial, Maa Ganga has been doing the duty of absorbing the heat and negativities of this earth. Besides and , It is Gateway for the four dhams of Himalayas viz. Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath.And the journey ends here...Fir milege kahi kisi roj ghumte firte :)

To unwind from a long, exhausting week, I planned my weekend to Haridwar & Rishikesh in the Summers of 2016. I planned for white water river rafting hoping that it will beat my Monday blues at least for a month. With much excitement, I reached Haridwar on a Friday, did some sight seeing and went to bed thinking about rafting the next day. On Saturday, with full energy & enthusiasm, I booked an OLA from Haridwar & reached Rishikesh in 60 mins. At a temperature of 40 degree celsius, I somehow felt cool thinking about the rafting.The point from where you decide to raft determines your coolness quotient. Normal people raft in Rishikesh itself. Cool people begin their rafting from Shivpuri (at a higher altitude). The heat must have done something to my mind since I felt uber cool that day &booked my rafting expedition from Marine Drive which is even higher than Shivpuri.

First we thought of going to Haridwar, We left for Haridwar around 10am from ambala and reached there by noon , around 2 pm.We checked into the hotel,which is already booked. We relaxed for some hour.In the evening , around 6pm we went for seeing Ganga Aarti(Pooja's performed along the banks of river Ganges). We offered pooja at the ghat and took a holy dip at the holy Ganges river. We worshipped at all the temples around the ghat.

Home to the seventh wonder of the world, the Taj Mahal, Agra is best explored on foot or rickshaw or a rented bike. Renowned worldwide as not only a mausoleum but an epitome of love, the Taj Mahal is profusely crowded during the day till evening.
If you're looking to escape the crowd, however, the city's Mughal beauty can be enjoyed from several rooftops and secret locations in the city, or at an early morning yoga session just 100 metres away from the monument.
If you want to go further, why not go into the depths of its history through the light and sound shows and plays at the Kalakriti Cultural and Convention Centre. Agra annually hosts the 10-day festival, Taj Mahotsav, a rostrum for culture and colour in the month of February, known for celebrity performances, food stalls and a creative congregate of about 400 artisans across the country showcasing their exquisite art and craft items.
Agra easily competes with Delhi's Mughlai monopoly with decade old restaurants such as Bilal Restaurant and Hyderabad Handi, while the Agra cant area houses local food.
Speaking of local, Korai village remains a lesser known location, which can give you an entirely different experience and a chance to interact with villagers. Travelling through this beautiful necropolis, one can also enjoy quiet spots, wholesome with nature such as the Keertham Lake and the Sur Sarovar Bird Sanctuary, before signing off with a visit to the Agra Fort, I'timad-Ud-Daulah (also known as baby Taj), Chini Ka Raza and Akbar's Tomb, architectural tributes to Mughal history, admired above and beyond India. Read More

Home to the seventh wonder of the world, the Taj Mahal, Agra is best explored on foot or rickshaw or a rented bike. Renowned worldwide as not only a mausoleum but an epitome of love, the Taj Mahal is profusely crowded during the day till evening.
If you're looking to escape the crowd, however, the city's Mughal beauty can be enjoyed from several rooftops and secret locations in the city, or at an early morning yoga session just 100 metres away from the monument.
If you want to go further, why not go into the depths of its history through the light and sound shows and plays at the Kalakriti Cultural and Convention Centre. Agra annually hosts the 10-day festival, Taj Mahotsav, a rostrum for culture and colour in the month of February, known for celebrity performances, food stalls and a creative congregate of about 400 artisans across the country showcasing their exquisite art and craft items.
Agra easily competes with Delhi's Mughlai monopoly with decade old restaurants such as Bilal Restaurant and Hyderabad Handi, while the Agra cant area houses local food.
Speaking of local, Korai village remains a lesser known location, which can give you an entirely different experience and a chance to interact with villagers. Travelling through this beautiful necropolis, one can also enjoy quiet spots, wholesome with nature such as the Keertham Lake and the Sur Sarovar Bird Sanctuary, before signing off with a visit to the Agra Fort, I'timad-Ud-Daulah (also known as baby Taj), Chini Ka Raza and Akbar's Tomb, architectural tributes to Mughal history, admired above and beyond India.

First thing that comes to mind is Taj Mahal, when Agra city is being thought by anyone.

We decided to see Taj Mahal during sun rise. I got up at 5am got all ready . It was 6am and we had no tickets. I didnot know we had to go to counter and the counter was on other side of hotel(Hotel is in between ticjet counter and Taj Mahal). I ran with my toddler without even thinking about others. When I reached the counter, I saw a very big line and thought of forgetting going to Taj Mahal at sunrise. But there was a counter which was free and written "Indians" on it. The one with croud was for foreigners. I ran and took 4 tickets(3 were children). We took a guide inside as children were interested to know about the monument. We have to take cover for our shoes to enter inside TajMahal. There were two gates on either side of the monument. Then we stood in a huge line and waited till it was 7am near north gate. As we entered the gate, there was another gate inside. Then came Taj Mahal in fog. It was a sight to view. I quickly took a snap and started going towards the gate. Pictures are not allowed inside Taj Mahal. There was little lighting. Guide explained us about the place where Mumtaz was burried. We came out and saw river Yamuna from top. It was full of fog till 8am . So we were unable to see the river clearly. After 8 am , fog started moving off and it was fabulous. Two pillars of Taj Mahal were covered with iron ladders like things to clean them. Then we took pictures and came out. We thought of walking to hotel but saw tongas(horse with carriage ) and tempted to go on them. After we reached hotel, we had lunch and started to Agra fort. Agra fort was real huge. We remembered parts of Jodha Akbar movie taken here. While entering, we saw some squirrels and children were excited to feed them esp my toddler. We entered the fort. We saw Shah Jahan's prison , their daughters' rooms. There was a good view of Taj Mahal from a point. This was one huge fort.Then we directly headed to Ranthambore. We stayed at Ranthambore bagh.

We were a group of 7 including our 2 year old. We landed in Delhi and started to Agra. It was 4 hr journey and seemed never ending. There was fog all over. We were excited to see Taj Mahal. We reached Agra by 9pm and stayed at Taj resorts(This property is not connected to Taj group anyway). Wonderful property just 500m away from Taj Mahal. Food was ok(not very great).

If you are wondering why Agra is on the list, let me put this out that there is a lot more to Agra than just the Taj Mahal. Agra has the best leather market in the country, where you will get the best quality leather products at dirt cheap prices. The street food is quite delicious and you just claim to have toured Agra without trying the chaat. Visit the Mausamman Burj, which stands as an impeccable historical structure with carvings on the walls, that overlooks the Yamuna river. It will be quite cold in Agra in December, so you should pack your woollens properly, however during the daytime it is much warmer. Agra is a very interesting place to visit in India in December!How to reach Agra:The nearest airport is in Delhi and you can also reach Agra by road, through the Yamuna Expressway.Start packing your things, and get out of the house for that one last epic journey in 2016!

Day 4 August 10,2016:- Jaipur-Abhaneri-Agra.Started the ride with an excitement that i was going to see taj mahal today. In between before uttar pradesh and rajasthan border there is a place called abhaneri which has a stepwell,it was built in 9th or 10th century by king chand and has a total of 3500 steps taking the depth of the well to 100 feet down from the ground surface. It is also known as chand bawri. While returning from this place suddenly a peacock cross my way it was so close that anyhow managed to control my machine in order to avoid hitting it. Came to the main highway. After a few hours of ride entered uttar pradesh. Till now the roads were too good but as soon as i entered U.P the roads turned from good to worst. The ride was not as smooth as it was before. Had to stop at several places to ask for the route to Taj mahal. As i was traveling solo so i couldn’t keep the luggage on my machine and keep it in the parking lot. So found a hotel unloaded the luggage and finally moved towards Taj mahal . It has two types of tickets, one is for 40rs and other is a vip pass which is above 400rs. For 40rs ticket you will have to wait on queue to enter and 400rs ticket you can enter directly. Taj mahal is an absolute beauty it was maintained well even the gardens around it was also maintained well. One cannot enter inside taj mahal with shoes, either you have to remove it or get a shoe cover over it. The details of construction was awesome. After spending an hour,moved towards agra fort. By the time i reached it was closed. So clicked some photos from outside. Same happened with fatehpur shikri. Which was on the way before taj mahal. Just saw it from outside and made a move or else i would have missed seeing taj mahal.

Next day early morning we started our ride for Agra. Visited fatehpur sikri first to witness the marvellous architecture work of Mughal period and after a quick glimpse of The Taj Mahal we again ride back to Mathura as we have our accommodation arranged in Mathura and also to pick up the other bike and finally to start the ride as per our plan.

3. Agra -The most popular destination from Delhi would have to be Agra. It is proximate to the main city – at a distance of around 230kms. While it may be famous for the Taj Mahal, it is also a great weekend destination away from the bustling city. If you are a history buff, this city will definitely catch your fancy. It is home to some of the country’s best architectural marvels like Fatehpur Sikri, Agra Fort and Itmad-ud-Daulah’s Tomb.

Your spot checklist for Agra: Experience one of the most the coveted destinations on a travellers' map. This erstwhile capital of the Mughal Sultanate is home to one of the seven wonders of the world, Taj Mahal. Few important additions to your checklist could be Agra Fort, Fatehpur Sikri and Tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah in this cultural capital of India.Suggested budget hotels in Agra under INR 2000.OYO Premium Near Taj MahalAddress: Opposite TDI Mall, Fatehabad Road, AgraHotel Price: INR 2000Click here to book now.

Reached Agra by train from New Delhi ! There are other lot of ways to reach Agra from New Delhi like by Volvo bus, by hired car.Update : From 5th April, the best way to reach Agra from New Delhi is Gaatimaan Express!!!Try to book a hotel/stay as near as possible to Taj Mahal, specifically near East and West gate, as these gates are open from Sunrise to sunset!! Good hotels are available at reasonable cost.

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Bhimtal is a city placed within the Indian state of Uttarakhand. It is placed at a degree altitude of around 1200 meters, and is called when an illustrious character in Indian mythology  Bhima. The city of Bhimtal is principally attractive spot among tourists and native travelers alike, chiefly as a result of its proximity to hill station of Nainital. Bhimtal is principally illustrious for the big Bhimtal Lake that's gift within the region. Throughout your trip to the city of Bhimtal, you'll go seafaring within the Bhimtal Lake, as this can be one in all the chief holidaymaker attractions in Bhimtal. A temple is found within the city of Bhimtal, and this attracts pilgrims from in and round the region. Known as Bhimeshwar, the temple was inbuilt the seventeenth century. The exquisite design underneath that temple makes it more attractive for devotion.